PATERSON — Officials have changed the time of Friday’s high school football game between Hackensack and Paterson’s John F. Kennedy because of fights among spectators at Kennedy’s game last week.

The start time is moving from 6 p.m. to 2 p.m., according to a statement issued Wednesday by Paterson Superintendent Eileen Shafer. Friday’s game will be at Bauerle Field in Paterson, the same stadium where fights happened last weekend.

“In light of the altercations that took place in the stands at last weekend’s game between Kennedy and Passaic County Tech, the better choice is to have the game take place with the benefit of daylight as part of our measures to ensure everyone’s safety,” Shafer said. “I realize this is not a popular decision, but it is simply the right thing to do.”

Shafer said she spoke with officials from Hackensack and they agreed that safety should be the top priority in scheduling the game time.

Hackensack’s head coach, Benjie Wimberly, is a Paterson resident and longtime community leader in the city. Wimberly said he was not aware of threats of violence surrounding the upcoming game, but he agreed with Shafer’s decision.

“I think it’s smart to play it safe,” said Wimberly, who also serves as a member of the state Assembly. “I don’t think there’s any doubt that the number one priority is always the safety of our players and fans.”

None of the fights during the Kennedy-Passaic Tech game involved players. Play was halted during the third quarter when the fights erupted and resumed after a delay of almost an hour.

Several weeks ago, some Kennedy players were suspended from playing in their game against Clifton after members of those two teams exchanged taunts on social media. At the time, Shafer said some of the comments by Clifton players were racist and she has called on the state high school athletic association to take action.

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